Lucha Says Pro-Government Group Helped Police Break Up Kinshasa March

The Lucha movement has accused the Forces of Progress of playing an active role in the repression of a C64 opposition march in Kinshasa on 15 September 2026, alongside the police. The accusation deepens a political standoff over President Félix Tshisekedi’s perceived push for a third term.

The citizen movement Lucha has denounced the role of the Forces of Progress in the violent dispersal of a C64 opposition march in Kinshasa on 15 September 2026. Lucha said the group, presented as close to the ruling Union for Democracy and Social Progress (UDPS) of President Félix Tshisekedi, acted alongside the police during clashes in the Limete district.

What the C64 and Lucha allege about the Forces of Progress

The C64 coalition said the march, authorised by the city governorate, was dispersed after confrontations in Limete. Media reports described the use of tear gas and reported injuries among demonstrators.

The C64 went further in its accusations. It said police, the Republican Guard, the National Service and the Forces of Progress acted together during the operation.

The coalition also claimed that Manassé Lomboto Bomengola, an official of ADD Congo, was killed. It called for the dismantling of the Forces of Progress, which it described as a militia.

Lucha’s denunciation places the Forces of Progress at the centre of the violence. The movement had already criticised the repression of opposition figures earlier in 2026.

Martin Fayulu points at the city authorities

Opposition figure Martin Fayulu accused the city hall and elements of the Forces of Progress of organising the violence. His statement echoed the C64’s claim that the repression was coordinated rather than spontaneous.

The march was part of a broader campaign against a perceived constitutional change. Opposition groups argue the change would open the way for a third term for President Tshisekedi.

The Forces of Progress have not issued a public response in the available research. The UDPS has also not commented directly on the accusations.

The episode fits a pattern of opposition repression documented in 2026. In June, Lucha reported two deaths and several injuries after another C64 march in Kinshasa.

The power stakes behind the Kinshasa streets

The protests are not only about the right to demonstrate. They target a political project that could extend President Tshisekedi’s hold on power beyond the current constitutional limits.

For investors and regional partners, the unrest signals rising political risk in the Democratic Republic of Congo. Kinshasa’s stability matters for the country’s mining sector and for the broader Central African region.

The Democratic Republic of Congo remains structured by competition for mineral resources and external support. Political tensions in the capital overlap with a battle for influence over internal stability and access to strategic minerals.

The available sources document the political repression more than any direct financial link to the 15 September episode. But the connection between street politics and resource governance is never far below the surface.

A sequence of repression in 2026

The 15 September march was not an isolated event. Lucha had already denounced a similar crackdown in June after another C64 demonstration in Kinshasa.

In that earlier episode, Lucha reported two deaths and several injuries. The repetition of such incidents suggests a hardening of the government’s approach to dissent.

The C64 has used each crackdown to strengthen its call for the dismantling of the Forces of Progress. The group’s name has become a flashpoint in the opposition’s narrative.

For the government, the protests represent a direct challenge to its legitimacy. For the opposition, the repression confirms fears about democratic backsliding.

The regional and geopolitical read-through

The unrest in Kinshasa resonates beyond the city’s streets. The Democratic Republic of Congo is a key player in the African minerals economy, and political instability can affect supply chains and investor confidence.

Western and regional partners watch closely for signs of escalation. The country’s relationships with external actors are shaped by its strategic resources and its internal stability.

The opposition’s accusations against the Forces of Progress add a new layer to the political crisis. If the group is seen as a state-backed militia, the government’s credibility suffers both at home and abroad.

The situation fits the broader pattern covered in Africa: The New Scramble, where political control and resource access are increasingly intertwined.

What to watch next

The C64 has called for the dismantling of the Forces of Progress. Whether the government responds or ignores the demand will shape the next phase of the standoff.

The opposition is likely to continue using street protests to challenge the perceived third-term project. Each confrontation raises the stakes for both sides.

Investors and diplomats will monitor whether the repression escalates or whether a political dialogue emerges. The next C64 mobilisation will be a key test of the government’s tolerance for dissent.

No date for a follow-up march appears in the available research. But the pattern of 2026 suggests the streets of Kinshasa will remain contested.

Frequently Asked Questions